Improvement in clothes-driers



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Patented Oct.v 22, 1878.

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MPEERS, FMOTO LKTHOGAPNEK WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

AMELIA A. HEATON, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,121, dated October' 22, 1878 application filed l July 22, 1878.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, AMELIA A. HEATON, of Binghamton, Broome county, State of New York, have invented an Improved Laundry- Bar or Olothes-Drier, of which thefollowin g is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide for l laundry .or household usea neat and simple panded to present the rack-frame in an in clined overl] an ging position to receive the articles of clothing.

The invention also embodies minor features of construction, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 presents a side elevation of my improved laundryrack in an extended position, ready for use. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof when in a folded and locked position, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line a: w of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, A A' indicate the standards of the device which form its outer sustaining-frame, and which respectively consist of two upright bars, a a', pivoted to each other at about the center of the height by a wooden pin, b, so that the standards may thus be expanded into the X form when the device is distended for use, as shown in Fig. l, or. may be placed in parallel position when the device is folded together, as shown in Figs. 2

- and 3.

The standard-bars a', which are the shorter, are arranged on the inner side of the longer bars, a, as shown, and are joined together at the top by a cross-round, c, which extends horizontally from one bar to the other, its ends being iirmly fixed in the standard-bars, so as to brace and rigidly connect them together. The long outer bars, a, are similarly joined at the top by a like cross-round, d, also having its ends rigidly fixed in the bars, so

and which are rigidly connected at intervals.

by iixed crossrods fj', disposed parallel to and symmetrical with 'the fixed connecting-rounds c d of the standards.

The lower cross-round, c, of the standard extends through loosely-fitting holes in the side bar of the frame B, at about the center thereof, and forms at once the pivot on which it swings, and also the central rod of the rackframe, while the upper round, d, which forms the top rod of the rackframe, extends through slots g g in the topl end of the rack-bars e e, which allow a sliding movement of the frame thereon when the device is folded or opened. The fra-ine may, however, be pivoted on the upper round,and slotted at the center to slide upon the lower round, if preferred.

The arrangement and connection of the parts are such, as will now be observed, that when the device is fully expanded, as shown in Fig. l, the rack-frame assumes an overhan ging inclined position at about an angle of fortyfive degrees, more or less, as this position is thought preferable, though a more nearly level position may be adopted, if desired. When the device is thus expanded it will be seen that the rods f f of the rack-frame, including the rounds c d, are conveniently available to receive the articles of clothing and present a large capacity therefor within a small compass, thus presenting a neat'symmetrical appearance andoccupyin g but a small floorspace.

-The upper extremity of the standard-bars a a terminate in knot-shaped ends 7c, which prominently project free of the rack-frame, so as to form salient points, on which larger and heavier articles of clothing may be readily hung, as shown in Fig. l.

When the device is not in use it may be folded into a perfectly fiat compact form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 5 and to retain the same safely in this position, the standards are provided with a' locking-bar, C, which engages with the swinging rack-frame when folded into the dat forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3. T is locking-bar C is connected to the smaller ."ins a. a. of the standards, near the base thereof, by two cross-rounds, h h, which join the standards together at the base and further stren gthen the same, while the rounds are themselves stiifened by the central bracing position of the lock-bar C, which is fixed thereon. The upper end of this bar has a rounded notch, t', approached on each side by inclines, and which is adapted to engage with the lower round of the rack-frame B by springing the same over the incline into the notch, when the device then becomes rmly locked in the folded position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When required for use, the device may be instantly expanded into a working position by springing the rack-frame from the lockingbar, swinging out the frame, and distending the standards, the construction being such that the rack may be sprung out from either side of the locking-notch and swung in either direction with equal facility.

The laundry-rack thu's formed is composed entirely of wood, without any metallic fastenings, which are objectionable for laundry purposes; and the construction combines light-- ness with strength and simplicity with durability, and in a neat symmetrical design embodies capacity with compactness.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A clothes-drier orlaundry-bar formed of two outer X-shaped folding standards, A A', joined at their upperends by two fixed crossrounds, c d,1`n combination with an inner rackframe, B, mounted within or between the said standards, and at the top thereof, on the cross-rounds c d, being pivoted on one round and capable of sliding on the other, so that the parts are capable of being expanded to present the rack-frame in an elevated overhanging position, or of being folded into a dat parallel form, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In combination with the folding standards A A( andpivoted folding rack-frame B, held between the said standards, the notched locking-bar C, fixed to one branch of the standards on the cross connecting-rounds h h, and adapted to engage with the rack-frame by springing the rack into thelocking-noteh when the partsare folded into a flat parallel form, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

AMELIA A. HEATON.

Witnesses:

J onN D. HEATON, FRANK FISHER. 

